Cartoon hits the stage

Good grief! Could you ask for more?All of your favorite characters are in attendance: Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, and Linus, plus Sally, Schroeder, and the always-optimistic Peppermint Patty. Spend the evening with them out in Barboursville as Four County Players brings You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown to the stage this weekend. Based on Charles Schultz's popular "Peanuts" comic strip, the play chronicles the events of an ordinary day in the life of the infamous down-on-his luck kid, Charlie Brown, and his imaginative beagle, Snoopy. Originally composer and lyricist Clark Gesner had no intention of turning his "Peanuts" songs into a musical, but after producer Arthur Whitelaw convinced him to develop a theatrical version for a run at a tiny East Village theater, it played for a phenomenal four years. Gary Burghoff, of the television show Mash appeared as Charlie Brown in the original production.A 1999 Broadway revival of the show garnered Tony nominations for Best Musical Revival, Best Director, and picked up two awards for the actor who portrayed Snoopy and the actress who played Sally. "Our production features many adorable and grin-provoking skits, catchy songs, and novel staging," says Gail Yemington, who provides the artistic and musical direction for a second 4CP production this season. You may have seen her work in the recent run of Man of La Mancha.Yemington's cast includes a number of local actors. Derby Thomas takes on the lead role of Charlie Brown, and he's joined by Dory Tucker as Lucy, Bobby McConnell as Linus, Billy Robinson as Snoopy, Gary White as Schroeder, Kristin Franklin as Sally, and Lindsay Minnis as Patty. Other players make up the ensemble: Teri Foskett, Rob Hefner, Ray Wyant, Amelia Camacho, Anne Williams, and Josh Tucker. "Without even one of the people involved, we would not have the terrific production that this is turning out to be. The 'Peanuts' characters are coming to Barboursville and audience members of all ages are in for quite a treat," Yemington promises.

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown plays May 3-5, 10-12, and 17-19. 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30pm on Sundays. Barboursville Community Center, Barboursville. $8-12. 832-5355.